Method of ignition in explosive-engines.



J. H. STRINGHAM. METHOD OF IGNITION IN EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1910.

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5] 140a wfoz MM? Maw-1 J Patented Aug. 15,1911.

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JOHN H. STRINGHAH, GE JERSEY CETY, NEW

METHGD OF IGNITION IN EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

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that it is 'placti able tQQaccomplish the ob-' ject by makinguse ofwthe products of comcyhnder to therein by ignite, the succeeding explosion trappinga- :porti,on of such, products and thereafter releasing them to ignite the next succeeding charge. According to my method, after the first explosion (which is "ignited by the use of the usual spark plug or other convenient device) ignition isetfected by the use of the combustion products. I have found my method tobe remarkably efficient K in practice Qandit does away with many of the *difiioiilties'nowexperienced and with many expensive devices now used.

In carrying out my method it is desirable to trap some of the'combustion productsat the time of the explosion when they are very hot and under high pressure, this pressure making the more certain their subsequent return to the cylinder to ignite the next charge. (which will thus be under less pressure) and the heat in practice the trapped products appear as tianu'lnsuring the ignition. ltis' desirable, too, to provide an inclosed spa'ce of proper character to hold the trapped combustion products until they are released. Only a, small amount need be trapped and the space may vbezconstructed and arranged in various waysaccording to the particular circumstances under which the method is applied. i prefer to use a passage entering the cylinder and leading to a chamber from whichanother passage leads to the main exhaust or the outside air, as

most convenient. Preferably, the passages and chamber are lined with a heat resisting material, such as asbestos, and cooling means, as a water jacket, may also be employed if desiredv Any convenient means may be may he used for'opening and closing the space within which the combustion products or number of cylinders,

Speciflcationoi Knitters Yatentl Patented Aug. 15, lgij. Application filed an as; 1910. Serial no. wanes.

are trapped. l. have found that it is desirable to effect the opening and closing of the trap onthe cylinder side by a valve at the, entrance to the cylinder, this being preferable-because, it avoids any space of pocket in which gases'or products of combustion might collect and produce premature explosion of the charge. All the other walls of the trap might'be made solid, but itis decidedly better to have an opening therein in which a valve is seated in order to secure circulation through the trap and thus keep it promgrlyv clean and-in the best working order. The means for opening and closing the, trap. may be'jof various kinds, "anarran'gement of camsconnecte'd With the shaft lacing yery'satisfactin r because admitting ot accuratediming. I find that particularly when the precautions thus 1ndicated are observed the method'is entirely reliable and' ignition is effected more certainly and more economically than by any other method of which I am aware. a

The method is applicable to all kinds of explosive engines, whatever the construction but for purposes of exposition I select and show .in the'accompanying drawing an illustrative application lot the method to'a twocylinderengine of a usual t-ypegalt .willbenhdrstood that the drawing is illustrative only and designed merely to make; plain a preferred way of practicing'myinvention, which 'adm'its of wide variation without departing from its scope. 4

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is an elevation, partly'in section, of a two cylinder engine with one form of mechanism which may be used in practicing the method shown, and Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

A and B indicate the cylinders, C the piss ton, D the main exhaust, E the electric spark plug, and I" an electric timer, vhich is shown to indicate how the invention maybe appliedwithout interfering with construe tions'now in use.

i di a e sor n s ea e es h milieu der and opened and closed by the trapping abl-ing the ignition to be advanced or re tarded. The cam-rod P is operativcly con- 'nected with the shaft T, which is connected with the main shaft of the engine.

In this form of application of my method the first explosion is ignited by an electric spark from the spark plug E. At the time the valve H is held open by thecam K until after the valve J has been opened by the cam L and shutby its spring, the opening of the valve J being merely for the purpose of permitting some circulation through the trap.

The trapping valve H is closed by its spring after the valve J has closed and just before the main exhaust valve opens. There are thus trappedhot combustion products of high temperature andhigh pressure which are held 1n the trap provided until the next charge of gas is compressed and ready for ignition in the cylinder, when the valve H is opened by the cam K, the hot products of combustion ignite the charge in the cylinder, and the operation is repeated. The drawing shows also a like trap and operating devices for the application of my method to the second cylinder, the two being so connected that the explosions are properly timed with reference to each other, and it is obvious that the method may be applied to an engine having any number of cylinders.

It will be understood that various modifi'cations may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the scope of my invention. The forms of explosive engines are numerous and in applying the method it will be desirable to adjust it to the particular engine and the particular purposes for which it is used.

I claim 4 v method of securing ignition in ex plosive engines comp-rising taking a portion the combustion products of an explosion,

holding them separated from the cylinder duringthe com ression of the next charge, and returning t em to the'cylinder to ignite said charge.

2. A method of securing i nition in explosive engines comprising'ta ring a portion plosive engines comprising taking a portion of the combustion products of the explosion while under high pressure, holding the same separated from the cylinder during thecompl' cssion of the next charge, and returning the same to the cylinder to ignite said charge; 'r

4. A method of securing ignition in explosive en ines comprising taking a portion of the coniliustion products of the explosion, holding the same in a recepta e, r n g said products from the receptacle to tho cylinder,'passing a current ot'gas thro gh he receptacle to cleanse the same, taking and holding in the receptacle the combustion products of the succeeding explosion and returning them from the'reoeptacle t0 the cylinder.

5. A method of securingi nition in mg a portion the explosion plosive engines comprising ta of the combustion products of before they are. exhausted from the cylinder,

holding the same separated from the cy1inder during the compression of the next charge, returning them to the cylinder to ignite said charge, passing a current of gas through the instrumentality used to hold said products apart from the cylinder to cleanse thesame,takingaportion of the combustion products of the explosion of. said charge, holding the same separated from the cylinder during the compression of the next succeeding charge, and returning said products to the cylinder to ignite said succeeding charge.

Signed at-New York city,in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of July, 1910.

JOHN H. STRINGHAM. Witnesses:

' IIERMAN Gus'row,

- YKA'rI-IRYN M. KILEY. 

